How To Treat Acute Osteoarthritis

At first, the joint pain seems manageable. In fact, a sore joint may be attributed to some recent activity and dismissed with a pain killer from the medicine cabinet. However, when the discomfort begins to influence quality of life, it should not be ignored. It may even become necessary to know what to expect and how to treat acute osteoarthritis.

Caught early, people suffering from osteoarthritis have some options to control the pain and possibly slow the progression of the disease. For example, a doctor will generally recommend:

* Rest
* Gentle Exercise
* Pain relief creams
* Over-the-counter pain killers
* Physical therapy
* Lose weight
* Hot or cold compresses
* Avoid activities stressing the joint
* Brace or shoe inserts to alter pressure on the joint

With care, hopefully patients can slow the degeneration of the cartilage between the joints and avoid acute osteoarthritis. However, when it gets to the point where it is becoming almost impossible to get around, more aggressive and invasive treatments may be required.

For example, people with acute osteoarthritis may find it excruciating to simply get out of bed in the morning. Forget trying to go to work or enjoying any of the normal activities. Even when the joint is inactive, the pain still remains because of the stress on the muscles and other parts of the body to compensate.

Eventually, acute osteoarthritis may become more than an almost unbearable pain. Even for the people with the ability to tolerate the discomfort for brief periods, personal safety becomes a big issue. For instance, if the pain and lack of mobility cause a knee joint to buckle while standing, walking, or climbing, the results can be a disaster.

In truth, a doctor will likely suggest surgery for acute osteoarthritis. The procedures may include:

* Joint cleaning
* Fusing joints together
* Realigning the bones
* Joint replacement

However, regardless of the surgical choice, there is no cure for the disease and mobility is often sacrificed to relieve pain. In addition, patients may have to give up certain activities that serve to aggravate the joint. For example, an avid walker may have to greatly curtail this exercise.

If you are suffering from severe joint pain that lasts for two weeks or more, you might have acute osteoarthritis. It is time to visit your physician and get a proper diagnosis. Then, it will be necessary to learn how to treat osteoarthritis, so you can find relief and get back to a better quality of life.